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... Brooks had 13 vs L.A. today. I know he's young,but streaky is a good word for him at this point. Props to Houston though (they earned my respect) for making the Lakers work for 7. The Lakers played defense for a change today,and Bynum showed up (about time). It will be a tough task taking out a well-rested Denver squad. The only thing as sweet as the Lakers moving on is the Celtics going belly-up. Good times indeed!Quote:
Originally Posted by Burton13
I second that motion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Unchained
Magic will take Cleveland in 7 games.
I think Denver may shock L.A.
lets not forget, the Magic did throw up 30 point win over Cleveland in Orlando, and lost by a bucket or 2 in Cleveland this year.
The only 1 seed in danger of anything is LA against Denver. Cleveland will cake walk to the finals against Orlando--I'll be surprised if it isn't another sweep. They may lose 1 game to Orlando just due to shaking off some rust--but then again, that would happen early in the series and the first 2 games are in Cleveland and NO ONE is better at home than Cleveland.
I really want to see a Kobe/Lebron matchup in the finals. I think both teams are very talented & well-rounded, and would be a great Finals matchup--it would definitely be more exciting than other finals in years' past. The only team that realistically can thwart that is Denver. If LA doesn't come out and play tough on the inside and use their skill advantage--then they're done. Denver's a much better team than Houston, and are playing as good of basketball as one could hope for in the playoffs.
Orlando is a huge matchup problem for Lebron though. They have the bigs and athleticism to keep him from getting to the bucket. The problem LA has faced at times is that their front line plays soft. The good thing about Denver is they don't have tough guys in the middle. Kenyon Martin is not strong. The Birdman is only high energy and Nene is soft as well. Too me it comes down to who has a bigger will to win, Kobe or Chauncey. Chauncey is great in the playoffs, but I'll take Kobe and home court.
As far as the Cleveland/Orlando matchup this one could go one of two ways if I had to guess. Either Cleveland will win it in 5 or Orlando will take it in 6 or 7. Just depends on which Orlando team shows up and the matchups are crazy as well.
Orlando's front court > Cleveland's front court
Cleveland's back court > Orlando's back court
IMO it will be all up to Hedo, if he plays like he did in Game 7 against Boston there is no doubt in my mind that Orlando ends up taking the series.
Also will depend on whether or not Lee, Pietrus, and Redick can play like they did the Boston Series. Those three combined played very well in the playoffs, when one would be off the other would pick it up. Lee played good up until he got injured and then Redick stepped in and was averaging 14 PPG during his first 4 starts of the postseason before going cold and then Pietrus picked up his slack at the end of the series avg close to 15 PPG and couldn't miss a shot. I know a lot of people like to knock on Redick but he didn't actually play bad defensively against Allen in the series. Good move by Van Gundy putting JJ as the starter who played decently defensively and matched up Lee vs House and Lee completely shut him down the last few games of the series plus Pietrus and Lee tore up opposing teams 2nd teamers who are both legitimate starters in the NBA.
So I think Lebron is going to have to literally pick this team up on it's shoulders and carry them, which isn't a problem for him but he will have to have a great series and get help down low in order to beat Orlando, or just shoot lights out.
As for the Lakers and Nuggets, who cares :p
If the Lakers could barely squeak by a Mingless Rockets team they don't deserve to be in this thing. :D
55-54 at the half, Lakers up...though Denver controlled almost all of the first half. I don't see them getting past Denver with Melo playing like he can, which is fine by me.
Cleveland and Orlando tomorrow night - can't wait for this one. It'll be a good series, but the Cavs are the best team in the league and too good all around...Orlando might win 2, that's it though.
Trevor Ariza is the man! No doubt this one's going to be a 7 game dogfight.
That was an awful pass and Ariza fouled him, Denver handed this one to them and props to the Lakers for accepting it. Denver wins game 2, mark it down and i'll eat crow if they don't.
Oh boy-here we go again. If we want to go there,then here ya go: Billups had a toe out of bounds on the trey late to pull Denver within 1. As for a no-call on your supposed foul on Ariza,maybe it was a makeup,considering Kobe got hacked more times than not with no whistle (the no-call that spawned his technical was a foul).Quote:
Originally Posted by Burton13